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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. YINGLING, OF TIFFIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO .I. K. PFALTZGRAFF & 00., OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHEMICAL COMPOUND FOR TREATING TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,737, dated May 24, 1892. Applitation filed November 23, 1891- Serial No. 4:12.845. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. YINGLING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tiffin, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inChemical Compounds for'lreatin g Tobacco, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved compound for treating tobacco; and it has spe cially for its object to furnish a composition of matter which will act chemically upon smoking-tobacco to neutralize the nicotine and at the same time improve it by rendering it milder, preventing it from becoming unduly dry and tasteless, and improving its flavor for use in a pipe or for the fillers of cigars, cigarettes, or cheroots.

My improved compound consists of the following ingredients, to wit: gallic acid, tannic acid, powdered extract of geranium, and powdered extract of licorice. These may be employed in varying proportions to suit the character of the tobacco to be treated; but for general purposes for treating tobacco of ordinary grades I have found the ingredients in equal parts, by weight, to answer. These in the form of powder are intimately mixed and may be used in a dry state and sprinkled over the tobacco or mixed thoroughly therewith; or an infusion or decoction of the powder may be used and the tobacco dipped there in, or the tobacco may be sprinkled or sprayed with the infusion or decoction, so as to be thoroughly permeated thereby, the tobacco being afterward dried to a proper extent, so as to bring it to a condition for the filling of cigars,cigarettes,and cheroots, or for ordinary smoking purposes. It is evident that the amount of the infusion employed may be varied indefinitely without departing from my invention. For cigars, however, I generally employ the infusion of such strength as to apply about one ounce of the compound composed of tannic and gallic acids, pulverized licorice and geranium to a quantityof tobacco sufficient for five thousand cigars. The same proportion will also answer for treating the tobacco for general smoking purposes with the infusion. Any suitable flavoring material or nervine may be added to the compound, if desired, to further improve the smoking qualities of the tobacco.

The chemical action of my improved compound in connection with the tobacco during smoking is as follows: The gallic acid during the burning gives out carbonic-acid gas, which neutralizes the ammonia developed in the burning tobacco, while the tannic acid neutralizes the alkaloid nicotine of the tobacco. The licorice extract serves to prevent the tobacco from becoming too dry and holds the tannic and gallic acids therein before smoking and takes away the bitter acid taste, if any, on the tip or end of cigar placed in the smokers mouth, besides imparting a pleasant flavor and tending to modify the smoke-products, rendering them less acid and the tobacco consequently sweeter and milder.

'VVhen employing a flavoring material with the compound, I prefer to use the tincture tolu and Valerian, combined or separated, as they are harmless and pleasant.

An infusion of gall gathered from the oaktrees of this country maybe added to the compound, if desired, where very rank tobaccois employed, to further neutralize the nicotine and ammonia, or an in fusion or decoction of oak-bark may be employed, as it contains the tannic and gallic acid properties and is less expensive than either of the other acids proposed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A compound to be applied to smoking-tobacco, consisting of the following ingredients: gallic acid, tannic acid, extract of geranium, and extract of licorice in about the proportions set forth, whereby the alkaloid of the tobacco and the ammonia produced in burning the same are neutralized and the deleterious effects of the tobacco lessened, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. YINGLING.

\Vitnesses:

W. S. WAGNER, R. L. CABLE. 

